Meditating on 'zen'-sations
The concept of Zen is to merge the spiritual self with the physical.
But according to David Wuchina, who practices Buddhist techniques such as meditation, anyone can attain the benefits of Zen through a simple method.
“Just sit,” he said.
Wuchina is part of a group that holds Dharma and Sangha sessions in Butler, during which anyone can try these Buddhist practices in a group setting.
According to Cynthia Marshall, a roshi that leads the Dharma sessions, the practice of meditation has been growing in popularity because it can help a person become more patient and relaxed in different situations.
“You are aware that, 'I'm not enjoying things, I'm just rushing,'” Marshall said. “As a Buddhist, you begin to recognize those moments and you take great pleasure when you are sitting.”
Sanghas first started being held in Butler about 22 years ago in the home of Celia Puz. Puz said many people have rotated in and out of the group, but she and Marshall have continued to lead sessions at the Maridon Museum and Holly Pointe.In addition to the group meditation, Puz said the group hosts Dharma talks and sometimes yoga as well.“We have fun,” Puz said. “We learn, but it's also lighthearted.”Marshall said people don't have to be Buddhist to participate in Buddhist practices. Wuchina comes from a Christian background, and Roxann Booser, executive director of the Maridon Museum, and Gary Ellison are both practicers who don't consider themselves Buddhists.Marshall said the practice of meditation encourages people to look at the world in a different way.“In Buddhism, we try to be non-dualistic, which is very different from western philosophy,” Marshall said. “We don't work with right, wrong, black, white. Yes, we discuss polarization; yes, we discuss current events; but it is done with more listening and more meditating.”
Wuchina sometimes speaks at monthly Sanghas hosted by the group, and tackles different topics using ideas gained through meditation.“You come to a realization,” Ellison said. “What it does is make you see the sameness in life, instead of all the things that are different.”There are no solid commitments required to take part in a Sangha, which is why Marshall thinks the practice is gaining popularity in recent years, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.“It's almost as if the architecture of religion is disintegrating and people are looking for smaller, more genuine experiences,” Marshall said. “That's what you get in a Sangha.”While there are benefits to meditating regularly, it can be difficult to start out because it involves being still without distractions for a period of time, Marshall said.“It isn't easy to sit in quiet with yourself,” Marshall said. “You have to face things, and it makes you be present.”
Despite the difficulty, Marshall said people who practice meditation may find themselves thinking differently after only a few sessions.“The first is, you won't reach for anger so quickly,” Marshall said. “The second is when they make a decision, it will feel right. Those are very, very relieving things in terms of stress.”Wuchina said the group atmosphere of the monthly Sanghas can help people keep attending because they get to be with others looking for the same community.“The wonderful thing about Sangha is you get to experience meditation with others,” Wuchina said. “That is one of the central practices of Buddhism.”The Maridon Museum hosts a Sangha at 6 p.m. the second and third Thursday of every month, and Marshall leads Zen instruction at 6 p.m. the fourth Thursday of each month at Holly Pointe.
